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Posted by on Jan 16, 2018

Adaptability: The Underestimated Skill

Adaptability: The Underestimated Skill

We all know the definition of insanity – doing the exact same thing over and over again, expecting different results each time.  But what happens when you’re trained to always run the same report, or write the same code, and something fundamentally changes?  Do you try to force-feed the existing process into the new system?  […]

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Posted by on Aug 15, 2017

Same Data, Different Conclusions: It’s a Good Thing

Same Data, Different Conclusions: It’s a Good Thing

When I was deciding where to go with my husband, I experienced a bit of work-related déjà vu. Every option I considered was very different from the next, but all were possibilities chosen based on the same exact set of data (number of vacation days available, budget, etc.). I felt like I was back at the office working with a team, arguing about what decision to make, even though we were all reviewing the same data.

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Posted by on May 30, 2017

A Perfect Match: Data Analysts Pair Technical Skills with Soft Skills

A Perfect Match: Data Analysts Pair Technical Skills with Soft Skills

I’m going to discuss a very important relationship in every data analyst’s life: the marriage of technical skills to their soft-skill counterparts. Just like every relationship, this one requires understanding and balancing complementary aspects to be successful. Let’s look at how the skill for knowing how your sphere of influence—i.e. awareness of what you can do yourself, and how you can influence others—works hand-in-hand with your skill for driving data-based decisions.

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Posted by on Mar 13, 2017

Put Your Data Visuals on a Diet: No More Pie Charts!

Put Your Data Visuals on a Diet: No More Pie Charts!

Happy Pi Day! To celebrate, I will be discussing one of the most widely-used (but not widely useful!) data visualizations: the Pie Chart. While charts and graphs are invaluable tools for easily and quickly communicating a complex message to an audience, if they aren’t wisely designed, they can also be misinterpreted, misleading, or even deterrents to action. And pie charts—despite their deceptively simple style and popularity—often lead viewers astray, or lead nowhere at all.

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